Yankee Donut Destinations

A donut’s very shape is satisfying. It is complete, a whole circle, nice to lift and easy to dunk. Almost any recently-made donut from a national chain offers the undeniable satisfaction of sweet, deep-fried fat, but mass-produced ones cannot compare to the edible ecstasy of a fresh donut made by a master. The northeastern United States has more than its fair share of four-star sinkers. This eating tour highlights the region's best.

Dottie's Diner
-
Woodbury
,
CT
Traditional farm house chicken pie is still available: a small savory crust loaded with nothing but warm, moist chicken meat. The donuts are, if possible, better than ever. The friendly community feeling so essential to the soul of a diner is thriving.

Coffee An
-
Westport
,
CT
Chocolate donuts, with a semi-crunchy sugar coat, are devil's-food dark; heavy, moist, and high on the grease chart. In other words, impossible to stop eating. We also like the plain cake donuts and the cinnamon-coated ones, each of which has a fine crunchy exterior, and the outrageously sugary twists.

Neil's Donut & Bake Shop
-
Yalesville
,
CT
While the glazed donuts are fine, it's the old-fashioned ones that are tongue-dazzling. They are thick and cakey with a wicked exterior crunch and insides infused with the unctuous savor of the oil in which they have been fried. Early in the morning, when they're still warm, they virtually melt in your mouth.

Allie's Donuts
-
North Kingstown
,
RI
Rhode Island's premier donut shop, where the variety is endless, including terrific honey-dipped and glazed crullers, and mighty jelly sticks. No place to eat here; all business is take out. Many people dine off their dashboards in the parking lot.

Mrs. Murphy's Donuts
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Manchester Center
,
VT
Forget about the national chains. Once you’ve had a real sinker at the counter of this storefront coffee shop, you can never go back to junk-food donuts. They are the simplest pastries imaginable: sturdy circles with a good crunch to their skin and creamy-soft insides.

Orangeside Luncheonette
-
New Haven
,
CT
A breakfast- and lunch-only counter in downtown New Haven, Orangeside Luncheonette serves the best chili dogs in the Nutmeg State. The spicy chili is a finely-grained meat sauce with assertive yet manageable heat. Their top-shelf donuts should not be missed as well, especially the Butter Crunch: pure donut heaven.

Donut Crazy
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Shelton
,
CT
A wild-and-crazy shop with good, regular cake donuts and some wacky combo donuts, the most outstanding of which is crowned with maple glaze and a very large amount of bacon.